Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday announced a monthly stipend scheme for postgraduate and doctoral students at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).
The decision, announced by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, provides financial aid to regular students enrolled in agriculture and allied disciplines to bolster state-level research and innovation.
Under the newly announced financial framework, regular postgraduate (MSc) students will receive Rs 10,000 per month for two years, while PhD scholars will be awarded Rs 15,000 per month for up to three years.
Facilitated through the efforts of Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister K V Singh Deo, the scheme aims to alleviate financial hurdles, enabling scholars to focus on advanced research tailored to agricultural growth. “Investing in our young researchers means securing the future of Odisha’s farmers,” KV noted, emphasising that the financial backing would allow researchers to focus on modernising agricultural practices without economic strain.
The government expects the scheme to enhance the university’s research capacity, increase participation in advanced agricultural studies, and ultimately benefit the state’s farming sector.
The official sanction follows a period of friction between varsity scholars and the state government. Despite an initial decision in 2023 to grant monthly allowances, prolonged delays in implementation led OUAT scholars to launch an indefinite hunger strike on December 22, 2025. The agitation was paused three days later after student representatives met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Chief Secretary Anu Garg, who assured them that their demands would be addressed.
